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(NoMoaeL) 6 I H. C. SHRINER.

FIFTH WHEEL. No. 366,637. l] Patented July 12, 1887.

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G E rh k f w E-: C H I' n l? .Y i|| ll J1 H k 19 y fr e C L 1v' 7 m52 G UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. SHRINER, OF RANDOLPH, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN ELFSTROM, OF SAME PLACE.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,637, dated July l2, 1887.

Application filed November l0, 1886. Serial No. Qll. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, HENRY C. SHRINER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Randolph, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fifth-XVheels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. This invention relates to certain novel improvenients in what are denominated fifthwheels 7 for vehicles, and in means for securing and bracing the same to the axle, theheadblock,and the reach, which improvements will be fully understood from the following descrip- 2O tion, when taken in connection with the an nexed drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of one side of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section centrally through the'device.

z5 Fig. 3 is a front view, and Fig. l is a top view.

V'teferringto the annexed drawings by letters, A designates the upper part of a lifthwheel; A, the lower part thereof. B is the axle, C the perch or reach, and D the leaf- 3C spring.

The upper half of my improved circular fifth-wheel is constructed as follows: The bottom side has an annular groove, u, of any suitable form. Diametrically opposite each other I form raised lugs b b, on top of section A, laterally projecting from the base of which are perforated ears e c. Equidistant from the lugs b b,and diametrically opposite each other, I also form lugs d d', projecting inwardly and iro outwardlyand vertically perforated. At suit able points through this half or section A, I make screw-tapped holes, into which I screw oil-cups E, for lubricating the surfaces between the two annular sections A A of the `Iifth-wheel. It will be seen that the external rear lug, d', is considerably extended, and

notched at di, for a purpose hereinafter eX- plained.

rlhebottom half7 A, of my fifth-wheel is con- 5o strncted with an annular rib in its upper side,

of a form adapted telit the groove a On the bottom of the upper hall", A, and thereby prevent the possibility of lateral displacement of one section upon the other, at the same time excluding dust from the impinging surfaces. Depending from and formed on thelower side of this half A are lugs c c c e, arranged in pairs diametrically opposite each other, and having screw-threaded portions on their lower ends. I also form on the periphery of the 5o half A lips or extensionsff, springing from the roots of the lugs e e.

Vhen the two circular halves A A are brought together, they are held by means of a front clip, g, and a rear bracket-clip, g'. rIhe 65 front clip is rigidly secured to the lugs d by bolts, the front one of which also secures the front ends of two braces, G H, in their places. The rear bracket-clip, g', is rigidly secured to the lug d by means of bolts,which also secure 7n the rear parts of the iifth-wheel to the perch C and the rear end of the upper brace, G, to the lug d and perch O. The regar end of the brace l-I is rigidly secured to the rear extcnsion ofthe lug d and to the perch O. As shown in Figs. l and 2, I dispense with a king-bolt and use a clip, I, rigidly secured to the axleB centrally between the inner edges of the lower half, A, of the fifth-wheel. The strap of the clip I has a boss, h., and screw h', formed on it, 8O the axis of the screw coinciding with the vertical axis of the Iiftlrwheel. The screw 11, passes through the brace H, and receives a washer and a nut on it, thus forming a pivotal connection of this brace with the axle. S5

The front end of the perch is rigidly secured to the head-block .I in the usual manner, and the spring D is secured upon this block by the clips Z Z and a bolt, m, that also confines the arch ofthe upper brace, G. This head-block 9o is seated upon the upper half of the fifth-wheel between the pairs of lugs b b and upon the webs between the ears c c, and by means of four clips, m', that pass through these ears and receive nuts on their lower ends. The head 95 block D is strongly secured upon the upper half of the fifth-wheel. l

rIhe axle B is received between the lugs c c on the lower half, A', of the fifthewhecl, and by means of straps p and .nuts screwed on the roo lower ends of said lugs c the half A is rigidly and strongly secured to the axle. The lips or extensions f aid `in affording a broad bearing head-block secured between said-lugs b by of the fth-,wheel upon the axle, and the rear clip, g', being shouldered and adapted to the notch d2 ofthe rear lug, d', resists considerable of the strain on the lower half of the iifthwheel incident to the draft'on the axle.

Having described my in veution,wh at I claim 1s- The combination of a fifth-wheel having formed on its upper part the lugs I),l the perforated ears c, and lugs d d', and on its lower part the lugs e and lips or extensions f, the

clips, the clips g g', longitudinal braces G H,

secured as described, and the pivotal leonneei 5 tion ofthe lower braeeto the axle, all substantially as specied.

l In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. SHRINEB. 

